A deadly funding crisis

Photo: Allan Gichigi/IRIN

"Less money and more priorities"

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - This World AIDS Day on 1 Dec should have been a much more joyous event: the global HIV/AIDS response has turned a significant corner, with record numbers of people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and fewer new HIV infections. But the announcement by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, cancelling its next funding round, has cast a shadow over any celebrations and highlighted the precarious nature of HIV/AIDS funding.

That money for HIV/AIDS efforts is not as plentiful as in previous years hardly comes as a surprise. UNAIDS notes that the global economic crisis appears to have put an end to a decade of funding increases by donors - after flattening out in 2009 for the first time, international AIDS assistance fell by 10 percent in 2010. full report

HIV/AIDS: Feeling the pinch

JOHANNESBURG/NAIROBI, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - Faced with the global economic downturn and less money from donors, national HIV programmes in East and Southern Africa - the region hardest hit by HIV/AIDS - are struggling to stay afloat. IRIN/PlusNews brings you a wrap of countries feeling the biggest pinch. full report

HIV/AIDS: Following the Fund

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - Running a deficit as high as US$6 billion and forced to cancel its latest round of funding, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria is at a crossroads, and a far cry from where it started. full report

MALAWI: The rush to rationalize

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - As international HIV funding declines, nations are bracing for a future with less money and tougher choices. In countries like donor-dependent Malawi, a new UNAIDS tool is already beginning to shape how to rationalize their HIV responses to cope with the altered circumstances. full report

KENYA: Better funding key to improving rural HIV care

KAKAMEGA, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - When Christopher Okanga and his wife tested positive for HIV in 2006, they halted all plans to have children. full report

HEALTH: TB programming, research slowed by inadequate funding

NAIROBI, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - The number of people dying from tuberculosis fell to its lowest level in a decade in 2010, but experts warn that a shortfall of US$1 billion for TB programmes in 2012, and the recent cancellation of funding by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, threaten these gains. full report

UGANDA: No money to implement new prevention strategies

KAMPALA, 30 November 2011 (PlusNews) - Uganda is keen to implement new policies to put more people on life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) treatment sooner, as recent scientific breakthroughs indicate would be much more beneficial, but officials say the country's poor financial outlook means there is little chance of this. full report

A deadly funding crisis
December 2011

Straight Talks

HIV/AIDS: Straight talk with Global Fund director Michel Kazatchkine

HIV/AIDS: Straight Talk with Eric Goosby, head of PEPFAR

HIV/AIDS: Straight Talk with Stephen Lewis

HEALTH: Straight talk with Stop TB Director Mario Raviglione